‘I’m Very Honored to Be a Part of That’

The upcoming sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has undergone a lengthy production process with multiple release date delays, but the film is finally set to hit theaters in December. Along with Jason Momoa as the titular superhero, the film also brings back several other returning stars. Among them is Amber Heard, who played Mera, the love interest of Momoa’s Arthur Curry in the first Aquaman.

Recently, Heard attended the Taormina Film Festival in Taormina, Italy to attend the world premiere of her new thriller, In the Fire. While at the event, she spoke with Deadline about the project. During the conversation, Heard was asked about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. She spoke about how the superhero sequel is a very different kind of production compared to the indie flick that is In the Fire. Heard then shared how she feels that one measurement of success for an actor could be their ability to do both of these kinds of films.

“Oh, of course,” Heard said when asked if she was excited about Aquaman 2. “These are very different kinds of projects representing two very different ends of the spectrum in my industry. There’s a ton of pressure on these big franchise movies, with millions and millions of dollars at stake, and compromises are part of trying to make it the most successful thing it can be. Then on the other end of the spectrum is a small indie film like In the Fire, a work of art and work of love, with nowhere near the same resources, and so there are compromises there.”

On enjoying both of these kinds of films, Heard added, “The best luck you can have as an actor is to be able to balance both. Aquaman, that franchise and the machinery behind it, I’m very honored, honored to be a part of that. And then there are these small passion projects like In the Fire, where I’m proud to have gotten to know the filmmaker and the cast, and we got dirty together, to breathe life into this story. There’s something cool about that, and I think success is an actor who is able to have both those things.”

Related: Amber Heard Thanks Fans for ‘Incredibly Warm Reception’ at New Movie’s Premiere

Amber Heard Is Back on the Big Screen in December

Warner Bros. Pictures

Addressing the elephant in the room, Heard’s reputation has taken quite a hit since she appeared in the first Aquaman back in 2019. Last year’s legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp didn’t turn out very well when the jury ruled heavily in Depp’s favor. With many fans also siding with Depp, there was speculation that the controversy could have gotten Heard’s scenes as Mera removed from the Aquaman film. However, a screening of the trailer at CinemaCon, which hasn’t yet been made available online, reportedly confirms Mera’s inclusion. However, Heard suggested in the trial that she had to “fight” to keep her role in the film.

“I had to fight to — I fought really hard to stay in the movie. They didn’t want to include me in the film,” Heard testified. “I was given a script. And then given new versions of the script that had taken away scenes that had action in it, that depicted my character and another character, without giving spoilers away, two characters fighting with one another. They basically took a bunch out of my role. They just removed a bunch.”

There are varying reports about how much screen time Heard has in the film. In any case, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be released in movie theaters on Dec. 20, 2023.

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